Telenor satellite revenues fall
February 14, 2013
By Chris Forrester
Telenor’s Satellite Broadcasting division (TSBc) saw its Q4 gross revenues fall 7 per cent to NOK 239 million (NOK 257m), although operating profit rose by NOK 3 million to NOK 97 million, when compared with the same period a year earlier. TSBc stated that retiring its Thor 2 craft along with lower broadcasting revenues contributed to the fall, although operating profits rose helped by cutting expenses.
Telenor overall has restructured and harmonised some of its inter-company broadcasting contracts over the past year and these are thought to have seen reduced transponder rentals as far as TSBc is concerned.
The loss of Thor 2, which was retired to a graveyard orbit in January 2013, also saw the end of a long-term lease to SES (since 2008) and which impacted revenues.
Telenor is building a new satellite, Thor 7, which will launch this coming winter, and will add capacity, including Ka-band bandwidth.